The Passing Of The Timberwolves

As is our custom now, my wife and I drove out to the assisted living facility where my parents now reside. On the table, along with other mail and magazines was a publication on slick paper, the size of an annual report, titled The Timberwolf Howl. Over the years, in different forms, be it tabloid newsprint or magazine, it would appear in our mailbox from time to time. It is the publication of the 104th (Timberwolf) Infantry Division Association.
The 104th, under the command of a rather flamboyant Maj. Gen. Terry de la Mesa Allen, was originally formed from men from Washington and Oregon and was sent to fight the Germans. My father, 90 day wonder lieutenant, joined it as a replacement while it was fighting in Holland alongside the British. In fact it was attached to the Brits, and so the rations and ammunition they received came through British supply channels. This caused some logistical problems, particularly in ammunition, which was not issued in clips for the M-1, but had to be broken down and individually loaded into the clips. Eventually the division was moved further south to team up with the American Army, fighting across Germany from Aachen, through Marburg, where I would eventually attend school at the university there, liberating the concentration camp at Nordhausen and on to link up with the Russians.
After the war, my father wanted to put what he had seen behind him, and avoided joining any veterans' organization. Nonetheless, I assumed he paid dues, and over the years received the Howl.
As I opened it, I read the inevitable. The 104th Timberwolves had had their last reunion, and the association was being disbanded, its assets being given over to a new one, The Timberwolf Pups' Association. “Pups” is what all us baby boomer offspring of these reluctant warriors were called as they settled back into civilian life.
It had to happen. The youngest of them would be in their mid to late 80's and there were too few physically up to traveling hither and yon about the country to attend.
It struck me as very sad. Not only is a piece of history fast disappearing, but as the generation ahead of you passes on, so too does a piece of your own life.
When I was small, these men were the young adults, the fathers who coached our elementary basketball teams, were our scoutmasters and were the hot dog cookers and burger flippers at those family gatherings that continue in our memory. They drove us to town to see Santa Claus at Christmas and read “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” before we tried to sleep on Christmas Eve. They helped us build tree houses, taught us to swim, how to catch grounders with our Scooter Rizzuto gloves, and how to make telephones out of string and tin cans.
Now those that are left are old, many infirm, and sadly many cannot even remember the great things they accomplished. Soon they will all be gone and the 104th and all the other men of that generation will be nothing more than ranks of moss covered stones. Their army will have passed into the shades of history.
Time passes, and soon my generation will be at that same point in its journey. I doubt that history will mark our passing as it will my parents' generation.

The Aroostook War: The Final Chapter

New Brunswick’s Provincial Governor Harvey demanded the recall of the American troops, by announcing that he had been given authority by the British government to occupy the area by force, if necessary. The State Legislature immediately responded by appropriating $800,000 and a draft of 10,343 militia to be made ready. By the next day, troops were already mustering in the streets of Augusta.
It was mid winter and bitterly cold. Uniforms issued to the militia provided scant protection against the snow and freezing temperatures, which often sunk to -20 to -30 in the battle zone. Thick red shirts and green jackets were issued, and within a week 10,000 troops were either present in The County or on their way. Taking lumber confiscated from Canadian operations, construction was started at Ft. Fairfield.
All this activity finally caught the attention of the Federal government. Congress authorized the President to raise 50,000 troops should Harvey make good on his threat and appropriated $10 million to pay for the operation. General Winfield Scott was placed in command of any future military operation. On March 5, he and his staff arrived in Augusta and took up residence in the Augusta House Hotel.
Scott’s first mission was to avert an armed conflict, and to that end, he started communication with both Governors Harvey and Fairfield of Maine. His letter to Harey stated that he was authorized the use of significant force, and was prepared to use it, but preferred not to. The Canadian, being of a like mind, not wishing to be the one to inflict war on the area, agreed to back off. Governor Fairfield then agreed that he would withdraw the militia and keep open the lines of communication. Thus armed conflict was avoided.
The question was discussed for several more years, apparently without further incident until Secretary of State Daniel Webster and the British Ambassador Lord Ashburton arrived at an agreement, written into the Webster-Ashburton Treaty signed on August 20, 1842. Maine accepted it’s current northern border with Canada and received $200,000 from the British government in compensation for lost territory. The US government also awarded the state $150,000 and was ceded land from Great Britain along Lakes Champlain and Superior.
The Aroostook War ended as all should, with no combat casualties. A Private Hiram Smith died of unknown causes and is buried along Rt. 2 in the Haynesville Woods. A number of soldiers stationed at the Hancock Barracks died of various causes, mostly disease, and are buried in Houlton. Several troops are reported to have gone into the woods on patrol and never returned. Whether they met their ends or took the opportunity to leave the service is unknown.
For further reading, the author recommends The History of Maine by John S.C. Abbott. Written in 1892, it is available online.

The War In The North Part 3

In June 1837 as a consequence of the closure of the Second US Bank, a determination was made that citizens in the disputed area had overpaid their taxes and were due a refund. To that end, a government agent was sent out to accomplish this. A zealous British constable arrested him and hauled him off to the nearest English jail. When he arrived, the local sheriff, alarmed at something so potentially inflammatory, promptly had him released. The Provincial Governor, Harvey, convinced the payments were in fact a bribe to keep the locals loyal to the United States, had the unfortunate man rearrested. A letter from President Van Buren eventually affected his ultimate release.
As tensions remained high, Governor Kent sent General Wood to inspect the fortifications along the Kennebec, Penobscot and St. Croix Rivers, and in a secret session, the Legislature authorized a force of 200 volunteers to drive out the trespassers, seize their equipment and destroy their camps.
In the County, meanwhile, things came to a dramatic head. On December 29, 1838 a group of New Brunswick men were spotted cutting timber on a local estate. When they returned on New Year’s Eve, they were met by an informal, hastily formed militia group, the Eaton Guard. Lines and weapons were drawn, probably with much shouting, cursing and testosterone laden threats. The sudden noise aroused a female black bear with her cub from their winter nap. Suddenly beset by an irate beast, the Canadians let loose a ragged volley. The Americans, sure they were being fired upon returned the favor, at which point they returned the favor. The Canadians immediately retired taking with them two wounded by the bear, but otherwise unscathed. Both sides probably ended the evening around a warm fire with a drop of the cure.
The first company of volunteers under a Captain Rines left Bangor on February 5, 1839 and reached Masardis on the 8th. Caught unaware, the New Brunswickers were captured along with their logging equipment and teams. Rines continued on to the mouth of the Little Madawaska, where the tables were turned and he was captured along with his men, loaded on a sleigh and hurried off to jail in Frederickton.
The remnants of his party retreated to Masardis where they began to fortify the place.
While the elated Canadians began arming a counter-force of about 300 men, Gov. Harvey issued a proclamation stating that sovereign British had been invaded and ordered out 1000 militia.
Things were now looking serious. Fifty more volunteers set out for the scene of action from Augusta.